I’m obsessed with finding all the best California wildflowers each spring, and catching the allusive wildflowers in Anza Borrego Desert State Park is probably one of my most favorite experiences so far.
California poppies are stunning, but catching their peak bloom time can be challenging unless it’s a superbloom year. After many failed attempts, my friend Justina and I hit gold in San Diego County’s Borrego Springs wildflowers for your spring travels!
In my wildflower guide I’m sharing exactly when and where to find Anza Borrego poppy fields and finding other blooms, along with tips for capturing stunning photos and visiting the area! This guide goes beyond poppies, revealing hidden gems like desert lilies and cactus flowers.
What Desert Flower Bloom Varieties To Expect
Borrego Springs flowers are insanely beautiful and there’s more than just poppy fields!! Though, if you happen to visit during a superlboom year you’ll luck out with thousands of poppies lining the desert floor. I have many Anza-Borrego wildflower photography tips but my biggest is to not just look for poppies, there’s so much more!
- California Poppies
- Purple Sand Verbena
- Desert Lily
- Barrel Cactus Flower
- Beavertail Cactus Flower
- Sand Dune Evening Primrose
- Brown Eyed Evening Primrose
- Desert Sunflower
- Blue Palo Verde Flowers
When Do Anza-Borrego Flowers Bloom?
In general, you can easily photograph wildflowers from Late February to Late March, but sometimes they bloom earlier and sometimes later, which is why it’s so hard to track down peak season from afar.
We visited the first weekend of March 2024 and it was peak season. If you are planning a trip just to see wildflowers, I would pick a date in the middle of expected bloom timing that year to make sure you aren’t arriving too early or too late!
- Last Week of February
- Early March
- Mid March
Anza-Borrego Flower Guide: Where To Find Poppies & Other Flowers
When visiting Anza-Borrego desert blooms, it’s always worth a quick stop at the visitor center first to chat to a ranger and get their reports on the latest flowers.
For instance, when we visited, the ranger let us know the desert flowers along Cayote Canyon weren’t in bloom yet, so we skipped that and focused on other areas. Anza-Borrego weather and rainfall vary year by year so flowers aren’t always blooming on the same day in the same place each year.
1. Henderson Canyon Road
Henderson Canyon Road is the best place to find wildflowers and poppies in Borrego Springs. There is zero hike required to the desert blooms which makes it extremely easy to photograph for sunrise. There is plenty of parking along the shoulder of the road so you can pull up, park and easily walk a few feet to the famous California desert flowers.
This is where I photographed the Anza Borrego wildflowers you see in this post!! We visited the first weekend in March and woke up before sunrise on that Sunday. I was worried we would be battling against tons of crowds, but it was the complete opposite.
We were the only photographers in the field for a good 30 minutes, and for the entire sunrise maybe only 5 people actually showed up.
I loved the backdrop of the Santa Rosa and San Ysidro mountains behind the desert flowers to frame them and create unique wildflower photos. We lucked out entirely though – it was raining on the Santa Rose Mountains but not in the valley, which resulted in a stunning rainbow at sunrise which we were able to capture in our photos as well.
2. Cactus Loop Trail
This .7 mile loop is flat and makes an easy stroll to capture stunning wildflower photos. As per the name, Cactus Loop Trail is best for photographing cactus flower blooms and other smaller desert flowers vs large fields of endless poppies.
Note that this loop has little shade, so plan a morning or evening visit to avoid excess heat.
3. Coyote Canyon Wildflower Viewing Area
If you’re looking where to find wildflowers in Anza-Borrego in March, another spot is the Coyote Canyon Wildflower Viewing Area. It’s just down the road from Henderson Canyon Road and also requires very little walking from the parking area.
Unfortunately during our visit, the flowers here were not in bloom yet and based off reports I found online, it seemed like these flowers bloomed at the end of March vs the beginning.
If you were looking for a nice hike and chance to photograph wildflowers like desert indigo, brittlebush, and chuparosa, this is the trail for you! It’s an 18 mile trail with views, rocks, streams and tons of desert blooms to wander past (when they are in bloom, of course!)
4. Palo Verde Wash
If you have an OHV, you have the chance to drive deep into the Ocotillo Wells SVRA to spot fields of wildflowers you can’t reach by regular car or easily by hiking!
The Palo Verde Wash is the most popular spot to catch huge trees of yellow Blue Palo Verde which despite its name, has yellow petals instead of blue. These tend to bloom the best after a lot of rain and towards the end of March so if you are planning a trip to Anza-Borrego during wildflower season try and go right after it rains!
5. The Borrego Palm Canyon Trail
You won’t find sweeping fields of California poppies here, but you will be rewarded with blooming shrubs, a beautiful hike with a waterfall plus a palm oasis, and a chance to see the famous Borrego Springs Big Horn Sheep!
During our visit, we hiked this 3 mile in and out loop and spotted some Desert Lavender starting bloom, which made the whole hike smell amazing. We didn’t spot any Big Horn Sheep but we’ll just have to come back and try the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail again!
6. Agua Caliente County
It’s worth noting that Agua Caliente County Park is about an hour drive from Borrego Springs. If you are on a roll with wildflower photography and want to visit more spots.
There are usually desert blooms like Desert Sand Verbena, Fiddleneck, and Red stem filaree along the trails. Head to June Wash to see these flowers!
Best Wildflowers In Anza Borrego Map
Use this map to catch these desert blooms!! Don’t forget to lean on a bloom cam, local Facebook group pages sharing updates and the Anza Borrego Foundation website for posted updates on trails and peak blooms.
More Anza-Borrego Wildflower Photography Tips
Wear Closed Toe Shoes
There are a ton of desert plants that grow around the trails with flowers, and some of them are nasty to step on or brush again. Trust me – a few years ago I had to pull a cactus ball out of my foot after the needles penetrated through my leather hiking boots. You don’t want to walk around in sandals.
Plus, these will be handy when exploring other corners of the park like the The Slot in Anza Borrego (seriously so cool!)
Photograph At Sunrise
The harsh desert sun will make photographing large fields of flowers difficult. I love to wake up before dawn and be out in a field taking photos during sunrise to capture soft light and a beautiful, colorful sky to match the flowers.
Plus, you’ll avoid crowds this way, too!
Opt For A Wide Lens And Zoom
I love my Canon 6d with a Canon EF 24-70mm lens for most of my travels as it’s incredibly versatile. The wide 24mm and f/2.8L helps me take wonderful close up photos of the flowers, while the 70mm zoom is great for zoom compression on landscapes.
But, it’s also handy to bring a more powerful zoom lens in case you can get up close to a flower field. Something powerful like a 400mm would also be smart to bring.
Stay At The Hacidena Del Sol in Borrego Springs
When visiting Borrego Springs you can camp or stay in a hotel. I personally find the spring desert weather to be too unpredictable to comfortably camp. For instance, during our visit winds got up to 40mph and that’s not friendly towards a tent. There are handful of hotels in Anza Borrego CA but I recommend you stay at the Hacidena Del Sol.
We spent the night here and loved this cute roadside motel with large casitas, Bluetooth speakers in the rooms, A/C and heat, a pool, outdoor firepits and free coffee in the lobby. Best part is, this hotel is just footsteps away from Christmas Circle and the best restaurants in town and under 10 minutes from the best Anza Borrego poppy fields!
Be Prepared To Reschedule Your Visit
As always, when traveling for wildflower blooms, sometimes your plans have to change if Mother Nature isn’t ready yet. I’ve had to pivot my travel plans when trying to capture California lupines and California sunflowers before. Make sure to keep an eye on reports before you travel to San Diego County to have the best chance of catching peak bloom season!
Pack Layers For Quickly Changing Desert Weather
Last but not least, make sure you pack layers. Mornings and evenings will be chilly in the desert but be prepared for hot day time temperatures. Also, you’ll want a hair scrunchie to tie your hair back, as it gets incredibly windy here. It’s also helpful to bring extra hand lotion as the wind and chilly air makes my hands crack and thus harder to take photos.
Frequently Asked Questions About Anza-Borrego Wildflowers
- What is the best time to visit Anza-Borrego State Park? Spring is my favorite time to visit this Southern California park as you can witness beautiful wildflowers and enjoy all the trails without blistering summer heat.
- When can you see wildflowers in Anza-Borrego? Yes! During the spring you can expect to find desert flowers which all bloom at different times. You can easily find current wildflower bloom information here.
- Will there be a superbloom in 2024? There was not a superbloom in 2024 despite all the rain we had. Maybe in 2025!
- What’s the best place to see wildflowers in Anza Borrego? Henderson Canyon Road is my favorite place for Anza Borrego flowers.
- Are Flowings Blooming In Anza Borrego Right Now? Maybe – it depends on when you are visiting! From late February to late March, you can find spring flowers in Anza Borrego. Check reports for real-time updates.
- What Are Some Places In California Where You Can See Wildflowers? California is full of stunning flowers, from sunflowers to lavender to poppies. Some of my other favorite places are the Yolo County Sunflowers, Oceanside flower fields and Napa Valley mustard fields.
- What Are Other Things To Do In Anza Borrego? This corner of the state has so many fantastic activities! Rent a deep to go off roading, star gaze in the Dark Sky, explore the slot canyons, hike Palm Oasis, go free camping in anza borrego, horseback riding or the famous mud caves in Anza Borrego.
- How Far Is San Diego to Anza Borrego? The drive is about 1.5 hours and very easy. We flew into San Diego Intl Airpot, rented a car, and drove over. We arrived around Noon! Make sure to rent a 4WD.
I hope this helps you plan a great trip to see the wildflowers in Anza Borrego Desert State Park! Borrego Spring is just 1.5 hours from San Diego, making it an easy town to quickly visited even on short weekend trips like we did.
This was my first time visiting Borrego Springs but I fell in love not only with the wildflowers, but the slot canyons, the palm oasis hike, the giant metal sculptures and the stunning desert landscapes. I can’t wait to return!
If you have tips to add about places you’ve spotted wildflowers in Borrego Springs, leave a comment below so everyone can see!!
